Scars are common complications of burns and trauma, resulting in mental trauma, physical pain, and a heavy financial burden for patients. Specific and effective anti‐scarring drugs are lacking in clinical practice. Phytochemicals are easily accessible, low in toxicity, and have various biological and pharmacological properties. Oxymatrine is a phytochemical that regulates autophagy networks. Autophagy is closely related to the maintenance, activity, differentiation, and life‐death of skin fibroblasts during wound repair, which results in pathological scars. We hypothesised that oxymatrine may promote hypertrophic scar repair by inhibiting fibroblast autophagy. In vitro studies showed that inhibition of autophagy by oxymatrine decreased viability and collagen metabolism, and increased apoptosis of human scar fibroblasts (HSFs). In vivo studies showed that inhibition of autophagy by oxymatrine promoted scar repair, resulting in a significantly improved final outcome of the hypertrophic scars, a smaller scar area, decreased epidermal and dermal thickness, and a significant downregulation of CK10, P63, collagen I, α‐SMA, and TGF‐β1. In summary, oxymatrine promoted hypertrophic scar repair by decreasing HSF viability and collagen, and inducing apoptosis via autophagy inhibition. This study provides a new perspective on the mechanism of hypertrophic burn scar formation, as well as key scientific data for the application of the phytochemical oxymatrine as a new method for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars.

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References1. Rao DN, Mason RP. Generation of nitro radical anions of some 5-nitrofurans, 2-and 5-nitroimidazoles by norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. A possible mechanism for neurotoxicity caused by nitroheterocyclic drugs.

The present study aimed to explore the methods and clinical outcomes of repairing skin defects caused by knee joint trauma with a saphenous flap. Fifteen patients with skin and soft tissue defects after knee joint trauma received saphenous flap transposition, and the rotation axis point of the pedicle and transposition method were modified. The flap was transposed through a “semi-open tunnel” using a subcutaneous tissue pedicle and by parallel “bilobed” flap transposition through an “open tunnel.” The whole flap survived after the surgery in all patients. The pedicle was not bulging, had no “cat’s ear” deformity, and was flattened. The donor site was sutured directly, and the wound healed by primary intention without postoperative complications. When a saphenous flap is applied to repair the knee joint trauma skin defects with small and medium size, by modifying the pedicle transposition method, the flap rotation angle is more flexible, surgery is safer and more reliable, and flap appearance is more optimized.